GM maize allowed to enter the EU

The European Union has authorised imports of a
genetically modified (GM) maize type for sale across its 27 national markets for
the next 10 years.

The maize, known by its codename GA21, is marketed by Swiss agrochemicals
company Syngenta and will be used in food and animal feed, not for growing in
Europe's fields.

EU approval of GA21 maize is of particular interest to grain traders in
Spain, and also Portugal, since until now, the GM strain has only been permitted
for import in processed form. Spain's growing demand for grain for use in feed
is mainly focused on maize. The EU's approval allows GA21 imports as grain and
those shipments are expected to come into EU markets mainly from Argentina, a
major GM crop grower.

GA21 maize has been engineered to provide resistance to herbicides
containing glyphosate. The authorisation will only take effect once it has been
published in the EU's Official Journal, likely to happen in the next few days,
officials said.